List of moths of Great Britain (Sphingidae)

The family Sphingidae comprises the "Hawk-moths", of which seventeen occur regularly in Great Britain:

Subfamily Sphinginae

Privet Hawk-moth

• [Agrius cingulata Pink-spotted Hawk-moth — probable import]
• Agrius convolvuli Convolvulus Hawk-moth — migrant
• Acherontia atropos Death's-head Hawk-moth — migrant
• [Manduca quinquemaculata Five-spotted Hawk-moth — probable import]
• [Manduca sexta Tomato Sphinx — probable import]
• [Manduca rustica Rustic Sphinx — probable import]
• Sphinx ligustri Privet Hawk-moth — south
• [Sphinx drupiferarum Wild Cherry Sphinx — possible migrant, more likely import]
• Hyloicus pinastri Pine Hawk-moth — south and south-east (localized)

Subfamily Smerinthinae

Lime Hawk-moth

• Mimas tiliae Lime Hawk-moth — south and centre
• Smerinthus ocellata Eyed Hawk-moth — south and centre
• Laothoe populi Poplar Hawk-moth — throughout

Subfamily Macroglossinae

Small Elephant Hawk-moth

• Hemaris tityus Narrow-bordered Bee Hawkmoth — south-west, west-central, north-west and east (Nationally Scarce B) ‡
• Hemaris fuciformis Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth — south and east-central (Nationally Scarce B)
• Macroglossum stellatarum Hummingbird Hawk-moth — common migrant, resident in south-west
• Proserpinus proserpina Willowherb Hawk-moth — south and east (may be accidental import)
• Daphnis nerii Oleander Hawk-moth — migrant
• Hyles euphorbiae Spurge Hawk-moth — migrant
• Hyles gallii Bedstraw Hawk-moth — migrant (occasionally over-winters)
• [Hyles nicaea Mediterranean Hawk-moth — possible migrant, more likely import]
• [Hyles hippophaes Seathorn Hawk-moth — possible migrant, more likely import]
• Hyles livornica Striped Hawk-moth — migrant
• Hyles lineata White-lined Hawk-moth — ?vagrant
• Deilephila elpenor Elephant Hawk-moth — south and centre (common), north (rare)
• Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk-moth — south, centre and north (localized)
• Hippotion celerio Silver-striped Hawk-moth — migrant

Species listed in the 2007 UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)^[1] are indicated by a double-dagger symbol (‡)—species so listed for research purposes only are also indicated with an asterisk (‡*).

References

1. Butterfly Conservation, 2007. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan – Moths. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham, UK. 4p.

• Waring, Paul, Martin Townsend and Richard Lewington (2003) Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. British Wildlife Publishing, Hook, UK. ISBN 0-9531399-1-3.